Can't quite figure out what it wants to be.At times it strains to be a stately period drama about 16th-century political intrigue. Then it devolves into soap opera muck and emerges as a rather tame bodice ripper.

Shot in high definition and filmed at many historic locations, the film somehow still lacks the splendor of an epic, and its urgency to get on with the next plot point leaves much unexplained while context goes out the window.

Parents need to know that this historical romance/drama deals with mature themes like adultery, betrayal, and even incest. Still, there's a balance here: Characters who appear to value material comforts and power get their comeuppance, while those who display humility and conduct themselves with an inner compass appear to be spared. Although there are a number of implied sex acts and much discussion of adultery, surprisingly little is actually shown.

Families can talk about the accuracy of movies based on actual events. Do you think most historical movies are true to what actually happened? How can you find out? If a film does fudge the historical facts, how do you feel about that as a viewer? In general, is history a good source of inspiration? Families can also discuss the relationship between Anne and Mary. Why did two seemingly close sisters drift apart? Are they depicted as caricatures -- one bad, one good -- or are they fully formed characters?

The good stuff

Messages: Men and women commit adultery, scheme to get power, and trade sexual favors. Family members betray each other, people are killed (often for muddled reasons). That said, there appears to be a strong bond between the two sisters, and there's an underlying message of forgiveness.

What to watch for

Violence: Loud fights between couples (a woman slaps a man, for example), verbal confrontations, two beheadings (the actual act isn't shown, but in one scene, a bird's-eye view from far above shows a head next to a body), and a rape scene (not graphic, but the act is clearly implied).

Sex: A couple is shown passionately kissing while presumably naked (the shot is close-up, so breasts and genitals aren't visible); a wife beds down with her husband while both are wearing nightgowns; a brother and sister discuss being physically intimate with each other; lots of talk of taking a mistress.

Language: Nothing really stronger than "whore," though the insults are biting.

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